Top Gun 1986

Take My Breath Away

 An egotistical navy pilot Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is sent to Miramar Naval Air Station for advanced training. Here he vies with Tom Kasansky (Val Kilmer) for the coveted "Top Gun" award. When not so occupied, Mitchell carries on a romance with civilian consultant Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). Shaken up by the death of his best friend and flying partner, Mitchell loses the Top Gun honor to Kasansky. Worried that he may have lost his nerve, Mitchell is given a chance to redeem himself during a tense international crisis involving a crippled US vessel and a flock of predatory enemy planes. 

 It was a bit of a "stretch" for Cruise to play McGillis' love interest. Because the beautiful McGillis is so much taller than Cruise, she had to slouch whenever she was in a scene with him.  On the other hand, Kilmer's tall lean body gave him "hunk status" with women all over the world. 

Best scene: When Kasansky chomps his teeth at Mitchell. Kilmer can make a scene memorable without uttering a word.

 This is the first film Kilmer made with McGillis, the second being At First Sight in 1999.